Me Before You

A Novel

By: Jojo Moyes

Narrated by: Susan Lyons, Anna Bentink, Steven Crossley, Alex Tregear, Andrew Wincott, Owen Lindsay

Length: 14 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Discover the love story that captured over 20 million hearts in Me Before You, After You, and Still Me.

They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose...

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life - steady boyfriend, close family - who has never been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex-Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life - big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel - and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy - but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A Love Story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common - a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

Cast of Narrators:

• Susan Lyons
• Anna Bentink
• Steven Crossley
• Alex Tregear
• Andrew Wincott
• Owen Lindsay

©2012 Jojo Moyes (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A hilarious, heartbreaking, riveting novel.... I will stake my reputation on this book." (Anne Lamott, People Magazine)

"When I finished this novel, I didn’t want to review it: I wanted to reread it...an affair to remember." (New York Times Book Review, Liesl Schillinger)

"An unlikely love story.... To be devoured like candy, between tears." (O, The Oprah Magazine)

Beautiful story, sensitive subject

As I was reading this book, I would vacillate between liking it/not sure if I liked it/back to liking it. I laughed with Louisa, thought her arrogant and pushy at times and cried for her at times. Moyes handled the ending beautifully. I can say for certain now, I liked the book very much. I can't imagine there's a movie based in the book. Don't want to see it and ruin the images I have from listening to this audiobook.
The narration was awesome! I felt like the narrators were in front of me telling me the story.

Its a good one!

while the subject is a sad story, the story it self is told in a positive and upbeat cadence. Loved the way Jojo Moyes draws you into the characters by way of the hopeful voice of Louisa. Her personality and character are her only qualifications when interviewing for a job as a companion. She has no real isight and certainly no experience in dealing with a paraplegic, yet she is the perfect choice. I was invested in the story from the very beginning. The narrator was also and excellent choice. The unexpected change in performer was an interesting change of pace that brought layers of depth to a track already in motion. I could not stop listening and missed it when it all ends...

Loved!

Would you listen to Me Before You again? Why?

I loved this story! I don't think I would need to experience it again, but it was well worth the listen.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried a lot during this book. At one point, I was driving and contemplated pulling over. A very heart-tugging, tear-jerking story.

Any additional comments?

Read first. View second.

Great listen

Finished this book feeling inspired in an emotional rollercoaster kinda way! Great listen and well done.

Mesmerizing

I enjoyed this book for it’s humane element, hard questions and a true love story. Highly recommend.

Excellent story but an important element is missing

Absolutely love this author and many of her works and would never want to disrespect her writing at all but I find it strange that not once is there any mention (by anyone) of any religious or personal beliefs regarding anything at all in this book. Nothing regarding suicide, nothing regarding the afterlife or any question even of anything about death. It’s just my opinion, but I personally would have found it more relatable if there was at least a reference sentence - or a question even if it was from Louisa’s mother ( or a stranger even ) or if Will said, “I don’t believe in anything after death or I’ve already come to terms with my beliefs” and then you don’t even have to say what his beliefs are. It’s obvious there are none, but it was left as The elephant in the living room for me. I kept waiting for it but there was nothing. It just seemed like it would feel more normal if there was at least one, “Do you ever wonder about...” (the kinds of things people often consider before death) but none of these things were ever mentioned. It just felt like it happened in a world where none of the residents had any religious beliefs or personal convictions regarding death or the afterlife at all. In short, it felt as if the subject was intentionally left out to avoid disagreements. I totally get that the focus was on personal rights for people to decide what’s they want and bringing awareness to the lack of handicapped areas in general. I have a nephew with Spina Bifida and he is wheelchair bound and my family appreciates this aspect of the book as well.

Leaves you thinking, feeling, and crying for days

Stories like this are too hard for me. After I finished I couldn't sleep that night. I kept thinking, no, re-living the book. And cried. And argued with the author. It made me want to hold my wife so close and not let her go.
JoJo Moyes writes so well. You are not only with each character, you are the character. Feeling what they feel. Laughing, confused, yelling, crying. I couldn't wait to get back to listening to this book.
This really deserves 5 stars. The writing is excellent and the female narrator is perfect.
But - I had just finished "Cold Mountain" and after the heartbreak of that, I listened to this. My heart and emotions can only take so much.
After finishing I did find out that this is a trilogy. Yes, I HAVE to listen to those!

Absolutely beautiful story.

I listen to so many audiobooks that I have a hard time finding one that is better than just meh. This book was the exception. I fell in love with the quirky characters and I'm already missing them. This book was witty and interesting and at the same time ripped my heart out. I HATED the ending, but understand it was really the only way it could and should end. If you're like me and get to the end of a book and feel so uninspired you don't even bother with a review, give this one a try. I don't think you'll be sorry.

I loved this book!

I listened to this book every moment I had the chance. I loved the story, the narration, everything.... I couldn't wait to the end to find out what happens with Will but also didn't want the story to end. I am currently listening to the sequel. Don't miss this one!

Thought provoking

Wow. Without giving anything away, I can say that hearing Will's perspective made me think about how I would feel if I was in Lou's place. A darker novel read by some wonderful narrator's.